Guenzel, Gerda Elsbeth

Gerda Elsbeth Guenzel (nee L÷we) of Calgary passed away peacefully at the Foothills Medical Centre on Monday, July 3, 2006 after a long battle with cancer.

The youngest daughter of Curt Robert L÷we and Emma Kuhn, Gerda was born April 12, 1917 in Oberstephansdorf, Silesia, Germany. Gerda was educated in Germany where she spent the war years with her first husband Dr. Friedhelm Finke, and her much loved children Anne Kristin, Gesa Katrin, and son Stephan who died as an infant. After the war, Gerda married Karl Heinz Seigfried G_nzel of Kopenick, Germany and had son Michael Henry. Gerda worked in the processing lab of Kodak, prior to immigrating to Canada in 1955 after the death of her parents. Once in Canada Gerda lived with her family in Newmarket, ON, where she was blessed with her daughter Irene Frances. Gerda worked for Canada Post as a rural mail delivery contractor for many years. Gerda had a large circle of friends and family who were the joy of her life. She was a proud former member of the Aurora Highlands Golf and Country Club where she had many fondly remembered friends. Gerda loved to travel and spent her retirement on many cruises throughout the world and on trips to see family in Germany, often with her well-loved friend Dr. Oleg Petrovici. Gerda was a lover of flowers, wine and music and played a mean game of chess. In 1987, Gerda joined her son and daughter in Calgary and made many new friends volunteering at the Kerby Centre; she was acknowledged for 400 hours of volunteer service. Sadly missed by Anne and Bob Cordes of Stoney Creek, ON, Gesa and Dr. Peter Braun of Schledorf, Germany, Michael Guenzel (grandchildren Marshall, Irene, Mitchell) of Calgary and Irene and Ron Hill (grandson Christopher Charlebois) of Priddis, AB; her granddaughters Suzan Challis (great grandchildren Spencer, Courtney, Conner) of Newmarket, ON and Jennifer Cordes of Vancouver, BC. Predeceased by her husband Heinz (Henry), her special friends Dr. Walter Johns, and Allan (John) Alexander, her sister, Irmgard Freifrau von Gersdorff, and brother, Dr. Curt Werner L÷we. Dearly missed by her very close friend Mel Portfors. Special thanks to the staff of the Colonel Belcher Centre and Foothills Medical Centre for their wonderful care and compassionate understanding.

A Celebration of Gerda’s Life will be held in at McINNIS & HOLLOWAY’S Crowfoot Chapel (82 Crowfoot Circle N.W.) on Monday, July 17, 2006 at 10:30 a.m. If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Alberta Cancer Foundation, c/o Tom Baker Cancer Centre, 1331 – 29 Street N.W., Calgary, AB T2N 4N2 Telephone: (403) 521-3433. Gerda will be laid to rest with her parents in Heppenheim, Germany.